accurate knowledge of the Latin tongue furnished him with materials to engraft into ours; and his oftentatious defire to difplay that knowledge concurred with the other caufes above enumerated to vitiate his ftyle. Determined to deviate from the English language, while his antipathy to the French restrained him on the one fide, his predilection for the Latin as naturally enticed him to the other.'

-The other particularities of Dr. Johnfon's ftyle, confifting in the perpetual recurrence of antithefis, parallelifm, triad, and often of heroic lines, and lyric fragments, together with his licentious conftructions, which abound in almoft every page, are referred to two fources, his endeavours after harmony, for which he has fubftituted measurement, and his efforts to attain and fupport magnificence, for which he has fubftituted, what fome of his criticifers have termed, pompofity. Mr. B.'s obfervations appear to be, in general, extremely juft; and peculiarly adapted to refift the torrent of affectation, with which the fervile imitators of Dr. Johnfon's fplendid faults have long been endeavouring to deluge the literature of this country.

Mr. Prefton's thoughts on lyric poetry, are written with an intention of oppofing what he regards as a false criticism of Mr. Mafon's, contained in a note on Mr. Gray's feventh Ode, in Mr. M.'s edition of that author's works. In that note, Mr. M. has fpoken contemptuously of irregular odes, as giving the reins to every kind of poetical licentioufnefs; and has expreffed a wifh, that in order to ftifle a number of compofitions, wild or jejune, regular odes, and thofe only, fhould be deemed legitimate among us. With this criticifm, moft men of letters, who are fond of poetry, muft, we fuppofe, heartily concur; and we are forry to obferve, that neither Mr. Prefton's arguments, nor his irregular Ode to the Moon, written exprefsly to confirm them, will have a ftrong tendency to change the opinion of the literary world on this fubject. But this remark is made, without withing to detract either from the learning or the modefty of Mr. P. both of which appear to be juftly entitled to the praife of every candid reader.

ART. VII. Synopfis of the Natural Hiftory of Great Britain and Ireland. Containing a fyftematic Arrangement and concife Defcription of all the Animals, Vegetables, and Foffils, which have hitherto been discovered in thefe Kingdoms. By John Berkenhout, M. D. Being a fecond Edition of The Outlines, &c. cor. rected and confiderably enlarged. 8vo. 2 Vols. 10s. Boards. Cadell. 1789.

T1

HE original edition of this work was published in three volumes; of which the first contained the animal, the fecond, the vegetable, and the third, the mineral kingdom; for accounts of which, fee Review, vol. xl. p. 428. xliii. p. 68. and xlv. p. 413.

In the prefent edition, the animal and mineral kingdoms occupy the firft volume, and the vegetable kingdom is comprized in the fecond. The work will be found to be a very ufeful pocket companion to the British naturalift; as it contains the fpecific characteriftic marks of fuch individuals, in the three kingdoms of nature, as the author has enumerated: we fay fuch as he has enumerated, because we apprehend that he has omitted some species that are natives of Great Britain. If, for inftance, he has admitted oxen, sheep, horfes, and others of the domeftic kind, into the catalogue of British animals, why does he exclude the dunghillcock, or the turkey-cock? We think alfo that fome British infects are omitted: the Conops irritans is found in every farmyard; and among the worms, the whole genus of Volva is wanting.

In the former edition, we obferved that Dr. Berkenhout bad given the derivation of fome of Linné's Greek terms, but omitted others; thefe omiffions are not here fupplied. We observe also fome of thefe derivations to be erroneous; which, fhould the work come to another edition (and, from its utility, it is very probable that it may), he might correct; as alfo, the derivations of Zoophyta and Lithophyta (which words, he fays, are compounded of Zwoy an animal and Quais nature, and Afos a ftone and Quris nature) to Zwov an animal and Qurov a piant, and Autos and uTor. He might, alfo, correct what appears to be Λιθος φυτον. another mistake. The Cancer Pagurus is the common crab, and not the Cancer Manas. Again, the Oeftrus Hemorrhoidalis depofits its eggs in the fauces of horses, and not in the rectum. The larva paffes the inteftines, and the pupa adheres to the infide of the rectum, until it be transformed.

The variety of the fubjects, and the want of a proper number of obfervations, muft neceffarily produce miftakes in a work like this; which, on the whole, has fewer errors than could be expected.

ART. VIII. The Analogy of Religion Natural and Revealed, to the Confitution and Courfe of Nature. To which are added, Two brief Differtations: I. On perfonal Identity. 11. On the Nature of Virtue. Together with a Charge delivered to the Clergy of the Diocefe of Durham, at the primary Vifitation in the Year 1751. By Jofeph Butler, LL. D. late Lord Bishop of Durham. A new Edition, corrected, with a Preface, giving fome Account of the Character and Writings of the Author, by Samuel, Lord Bishop of Gloucester. 8vo. 8vo. pp. 550. 6s. Boards. Rivingtons, &c. 1788.

HE value of Bishop Butler's writings is too well known,

to the public this new edition of his Analogy, we have only to REV. July, 1789. inform

E

inform our readers, that the account of his character and writings prefixed by the Right Rev. Editor, is chiefly intended to vindicate this great man from the calumny, which has represented -him as addicted to fuperftition, as inclined to Popery, and as dying in the communion of the Church of Rome. Concerning the falfity of the laft charge, there cannot, we think, remain the leaft doubt in the mind of any one who has examined into the "affair. The principal circumftance which gave rife to an idea that he was inclined to Popery, feems to be, that, when Bishop of Bristol, he put up a crofs in his epifcopal house.

1. With respect to this circumftance, his advocate pleads, that "it was intended by the blameless Prelate, merely as a fign, or memorial, that true Chriftians are to bear their cross, and not to be afhamed of following a crucified Mafter; but, at the fame time, he owns, that, on account of the offence it occafioned, both at the time and fince, it were to be wifhed, in prudence, it had not been done.'

In farther vindication of Bifhop Butler, paffages are quoted from his Sermons, and from a Charge to his Clergy, delivered only five years before his death, which ftrongly express his ab-horrence of Popery.

After all that is advanced in this apology, we cannot think the good Bifhop entirely exculpated from the general charge of a tendency toward fuperftition. The ftrong manner in which he expreffes himself concerning the importance of external forms of religion, in his Charge to the Clergy, compared with the acknowleged fact of his erecting a crofs in his chapel, and with the well-known penfive turn of his mind, will, altogether, throw a degree of gloom over his religious character, not altogether worthy of that manly understanding, and that philofophical fpirit, which appear in his writings.

To the apology for Bifhop Butler, prefixed to this volume, is fubjoined a judicious fummary of his moral and religious fyftems.

ART. IX. The Correfpondence of Two Lovers, Inhabitants of Lyons. Published from the French Originals. 12mo. 3 Vols. 7s. 6d. fewed. Hookham, &c. 1788.

I'

F nature and paffion have any longer the influence which they were wont to poflefs, the prefent volumes will affuredly be well received by the world. They contain a well-written detail of love-adventures, intermingled with admirable obfervations on the feveral propenfities of the human heart. The catastrophe of the ftory-no other than the deftruction of the lovers by each other's hands, and which is faid to be founded in fact, is truly horrible. The accompanying reflections on that act, are, how

ever, fuch as muft awaken in every bofom a fenfe of its enormity. There, is therefore, nothing of pernicious tendency in this publication, as many might at firft, and from a fimple relation of the event, be led to imagine.

The following fentiments are, fo juft, fo pertinent, and, indeed, fo truly philofophical, that we shall not apologize to the reader for the fpace which they may occupy in our journal. They are given in answer to Faldani, the hero of the piece, who had remarked to his friend the Curate, and in fomewhat acrimonious language, on the difproportion of the goods of fortune among mankind:

The CURATE to FALDONI.

"I commend the ftrictness of your moral fentiments, and your opinion of the inequality of rank among mankind. But, my dear fon, all these fine reafonings will not correct the world; and the truths you atter will not perfuade any to defcend from the ladder on which he is mounted. Though, in reality, I efteem no more than you the people who are proud of the advantages they derive from birth and fortune, yet I go with the ftream, and bow my head to him whom chance has placed above me. Moralizing may afford confolation; but to change the established cuftom of things is impoffible! Enjoy the beauties of rural life; raise your foul to the Supreme Being; think in peaceful folitude on the crowd of wretches who languish in chains, or on a bed of agonizing fickness. How many would envy your lot, and wifh, like you, to have the privilege of beholding the glory of the rifing fun; and yet you dare to murmur, who have only to look around you for ample objects of content! Where lie your pains? what is your diftemper? what fetters confine you? You poffefs all the freedom, health, and riches, that nature can beftow; and, above all, ability to enjoy them. But shocking prejedices impofe their iron yoke on your neck; haughty mortals raise a wall of feparation between you and your miftrefs! Well, my friend, this is an happiness, created by an inclination which would tyrannife beyond the bounds of reafon. God forbid that I should fay there is no hope of fuccefs for your affection. I have given you my promife to difpofe the heart of a mother in your favour, and time, accident, and your own behaviour, may fecond my efforts. But examine your felf, and tell me whether the extravagance of your wishes at this very inftant is not the only fource of your diftrefs: when confidering how far you are from having obtained your object, ought you not to be prepared for misfortunes, that they may not overfet you, fhould they arrive? There is a certain foftnefs that attends melancholy reflections: for fufceptible hearts there is a fecret charm in forrow. It is your duty, if I may be allowed the expreffion, to render as comfortable as poffible your bed of thorns. A Sibarite, reclined on rofes, dares complain. Why will you not adopt that way of thinking, which, let fortune fmile or frown, will be moft falutary? Under affliction, thank heaven that it is fo fupportable; and bear in memory the bleffings that preceded it. Believe me, my

friend, happiness and virtue are found only with moderation. A foft

E 2

voice,

voice, a gentle gale, fragrant odours, are delightful; but thundering forms, dazzling luftre, fhrieking cries, and ftrong fcents, wound our organs, and leave behind them difagreeable impreffions. Nature, by beftowing on us a delicate organization, teaches us to avoid every thing which may difarrange it; fhe fhews us by the models of beauty placed before our eyes, that from the harmony, proportion, and unity of their parts, flows that inexpreffible charm which wins our approbation. If fhe has created paffions, their courfe is bounded, and the commands them to accompany the real wants of mankind. Hence, the favage clans who reft in their original inftitutions, are not fufceptible of durable emotions; their tranfient refentment does not weave the dark and intricate plots which are contrived by our depraved hearts; and their love is only a phyfical fentiment excited by the prefence of its object, and fugitive as the pleafure with which it is gratified. In this ftate man may be happy, because he acknowleges only the impulfe of nature; but when, fubject to the capricious laws of our focial contract, instinct is loft in the chaos of factious passions, he is perpetually croffed in his motions, and fruftrated of his defigns. The foul becomes paffive amid the crowd of contending inclinations: in the difarrangement of the fenfes, fhe conceits ideas of the greatest disparity: fubftitutes the phantoms of the imagination for real objects; makes ufe of reafon itself to justify her errors; abuses words, things, and fixed principles; and ftops not till, wearied out and ftu pified, as it were, it is obliged from the tumult to feek repofe. Nature, who impreffed the ftamp of thought on the forehead of man, there paints, in fucceffive fcenery, all the internal emotions; the palpitations of fear, the convulfions of anger, the cares of ambition, the corroding pangs of envy, the agonies of love. Do these alarming fymptoms announce felicity? Is the inhabitant at eafe, while his hopfe is in a conflagration? I admire those investigators of the human heart, who are champions in behalf of the paffions! They are awed by no difficulties; even avarice finds in them able panegyrifts!

For the idea of a happy mortal, let us fix our eyes on the wife man. We fhall fee him equally calm, whether triumphant or unfortunate; alike a stranger to unmanly fear and feverish expectation; enjoying, by a moderate exercise of his faculties, all the bleffings of nature; rejecting nothing allowed him by reafon; refraining, without violence, from what the difapproves; availing himself of the theory of the paffions to regulate their ufe; facrificing his taste to his principles; refreshing the fallies of his mind, if they have a tendency to bewilder it; appearing in fociety the friend of mankind, ever ready to plead the cause of the abfent, to defend the rights of the weak, to bring forward modeft merit; indifferent to all fyftems, having no object in view but truth; never adopting an opinion without examination; never paffing fentence, without having weighed the me rits of the caufe; making his reflections the bafe of his conduct, and to avoid repentance leaving nothing to chance which he can difpofe of by prudence. None can be more indulgent to his fellow-creatures, whom he ferves without hope of reward: nay he does more, he heaps obligations on the individual who ftudies to injure him, and punishes his enemies with benefits. Hatred finds no admiffion in his heart; it

belongs